In the Hoy Hills (Orkney), 1977, Bet Low oil on canvas 91.5 x 122.3 cm © Bet Low Trust.
Photo: Alistair Peebles courtesy of the Pier Arts Centre, Stromness

The centenary of the birth of the Scottish artist Bet Low (1924-2007) is to be marked in both Glasgow and Orkney through a collaboration between the Reid Gallery, The Glasgow School of Art and the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney.

This exhibition, celebrating the centenary of her birth will reflect on Bet Low’s working life, from early studies of Glasgow to the late Orkney landscapes and go some way in reassessing this important Scottish artist's contribution to Scottish art and culture.

Both Glasgow and Orkney played a crucial part in the artist’s life and work, forming the backdrop to important stages in her long career.  

The exhibition will also contain reference to Low's wider contribution to Scottish arts, in Glasgow, from her role co-founding the New Charing Cross Gallery (1963-8), to her other activities with Glasgow Unity Theatre, the Clyde Group and open-air exhibitions on the railings on Glasgow Botanics (1956).

The exhibition in Reid Gallery, GSA, is 11 Jan - 8 Feb 2025, whilst in the Pier Arts Centre 1 March – 7 June 2025.

Loans are from public and private collections, including The Bet Low Trust, Centre for Contemporary Art Glasgow (CCA) Archive, Culture Perth & Kinross Museum & Galleries, The Glasgow School of Art, Lillie Art Gallery, National Galleries of Scotland, National Library of Scotland, North Lanarkshire Council, Orkney Islands Council, The Pier Arts Centre Collection, Royal Scottish Academy Diploma Collection and University of Glasgow Library Archives and Special Collections.

The loans and exhibition are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.